Augmented reality gaming system

ABSTRACT

An augmented reality gaming system uses a gameplay device to removably secure a mobile device. The gameplay device has at least one user interface and a wireless transceiver for communicating with the mobile device. An augmented reality gaming app stored in the memory of the mobile device utilizes an image sensor of the mobile device to display a live image on a screen of the mobile device, and causes graphics corresponding to one or more virtual targets to be overlaid on the live image. Using information from a location sensor and an orientation sensor of the mobile device, together with information about a virtual location of the virtual target, the mobile device determines whether a virtual shot triggered by the at least one user interface causes virtual damage to the virtual target.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to augmented reality gaming systems, andmore particularly to a smartphone-based augmented reality gaming system.

BACKGROUND

Augmented reality involves the overlay of computer-generated images ordata on one or more images of a user's actual physical environment,which may be obtained, for example, from an image sensor such as a videocamera. The basic concept of augmented reality is not new. U.S. Pat. No.8,951,128, entitled “Device and Method for an Electronic Tag Game,”describes a device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game oftag using infrared light communications and augmented reality. Thedevice includes infrared transmitters and infrared receives tofacilitate omnidirectional two-way communication between two or moredevices and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by auser.

Additionally, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2013/0225288A1, entitled “Mobile Gaming Platform System and Method,” describes auniversal gaming controller and method for enabling connectivity betweenat least one physical host and at least one electronic device. Thephysical host has at least one physical trigger configured to beoperated by a user thereof. The controller includes a housing configuredto be physically coupled with the physical host and the electronicdevice, and a connector configured to allow transfer of data between thephysical trigger and a port of the electronic device.

The references identified above are hereby incorporated by referenceherein, in their entirety.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes an augmented reality gaming system foruse with smartphones or other mobile devices. By utilizing thecomponents of the smartphones or other mobile devices to determineposition and orientation, the augmented reality gaming system describedherein does not require infrared light transmitters or receivers todetermine when a player or other target has been “tagged.” Thisbeneficially allows the augmented reality gaming system of the presentdisclosure to be used for games other than simple tag, and alsobeneficially reduces the power requirements of gameplay devices used inconnection with the smartphones or other mobile devices as part of theaugmented reality gaming system. Such gameplay devices may be equippedwith components that require very little power, thus allowing suchdevices to be used for longer periods of time without recharging than istypical of existing gameplay devices using infrared transmitters andreceivers.

An augmented reality gaming system according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure comprises a gameplay device and a mobile device. Thegameplay device comprises a mount; a first wireless transceiver; and atrigger. The mobile device comprises: a processor; a screen; an imagesensor; a location sensor; an orientation sensor; a second wirelesstransceiver; and a memory. The memory stores an augmented reality gamingapp comprising instructions for execution by the processor that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to: display, on thescreen, a live image received from the image sensor; receive locationinformation from the location sensor; generate target information aboutat least one target; display, on the screen and based on the locationinformation, a graphical depiction of the at least one target as anoverlay on the live image; receive, via the second wireless transceiverand from the first wireless transceiver, an indication of activation ofthe trigger, wherein activation of the trigger corresponds to the firingof a virtual weapon; display an animation on the screen in response tothe indication; receive orientation information from the orientationsensor; and calculate, based on the location information, theorientation information, and the target information, whether the firingof the virtual weapon caused virtual damage to the target.

The target information may comprise target location information andtarget size information. The first wireless transceiver may communicatewith the second wireless transceiver using a Bluetooth protocol. Theaugmented reality gaming app may comprise additional instructions forexecution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, furthercause the processor to award points based on the amount of virtualdamage caused to the target. The screen may be a touchscreen, and theaugmented reality gaming app may comprise additional instructions forexecution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, furthercause the processor to receive, via the touchscreen, a user selectionfor one of a single player and a multiplayer game. The user selectionmay correspond to a multiplayer game, and the augmented reality gamingapp may comprise additional instructions for execution by the processorthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor toreceive, via the second wireless transceiver, second locationinformation about a location of a second mobile device. The secondwireless transceiver may receive the second location information via aWiFi hub. The augmented reality gaming app may comprise additionalinstructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to calculate, based on thelocation information, the orientation information, and the secondlocation information, whether the firing of the virtual weapon causedvirtual damage to a user of the second mobile device. The virtual weaponmay be a gun, and the animation may depict a gunshot. The virtual weaponmay be a grenade launcher, and the animation may depict a grenade launchand subsequent explosion.

An AR gaming system according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure comprises a gaming device comprising an adjustable mount, aplurality of user interfaces, and a secondary wireless transceiver. TheAR gaming system further comprises a first mobile device removablysecured to the adjustable mount, the first mobile device comprising: aprocessor; a location sensor; an orientation sensor; an image sensor; aprimary wireless transceiver; a screen; and a memory. The memory maystore instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed bythe processor, cause the processor to: establish a multiplayer gamingsession among a plurality of mobile devices including the first mobiledevice, each of the plurality of mobile devices corresponding to aplayer; receive, via the primary wireless transceiver, information abouta location of the plurality of mobile devices other than the firstmobile device; receive location information about the first mobiledevice from the location sensor; transmit, via the primary wirelesstransceiver, the location information; generate target information abouta plurality of virtual targets, the target information comprising atleast target location information and target orientation information;transmit the target information via the primary wireless transceiver;display, on the screen, a live image based on data received from theimage sensor; receive orientation information about the first mobiledevice from the orientation sensor; and selectively display on thescreen, based on the location information, the orientation information,and the target information, at least one virtual image representing atarget, the at least one virtual image overlaid on the live image.

The memory may store additional instructions for execution by theprocessor that, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: receive, from the secondary wireless transceiver and viathe primary wireless transceiver, a signal indicating user interactionwith one of the plurality of user interfaces; display, on the screen andbased on the signal, an image sequence; and transmit, via the primarywireless transceiver, information corresponding to the signal. Theplurality of user interfaces may correspond to different virtualweapons, and the signal may correspond to the firing of the virtualweapon corresponding to the one of the plurality of user interfaces. Thememory may store additional instructions for execution by the processorthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor tocalculate, based on at least the orientation information, the locationinformation, and the target information, whether the firing of thevirtual weapon caused virtual damage to at least one of the plurality oftargets or at least one of the players corresponding to the plurality ofmobile devices other than the first mobile device. The calculation maybe further based upon information about the virtual weapon correspondingto the one of the plurality of user interfaces. A change in the targetorientation information may result in a change in the at least onevirtual image.

A gaming system according to yet another embodiment of the presentdisclosure comprises: a gameplay device configured to hold a mobiledevice, the gameplay device comprising at least one trigger and a firstwireless transceiver, the mobile device comprising: a processor; atouchscreen; a location sensor; an orientation sensor; an image sensor;a second wireless transceiver; and a memory. The memory storesinstructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to: display a live image on thetouchscreen based on a signal from the image sensor; generate targetinformation about at least one target; overlay an graphic on the liveimage based on the target information, the graphic corresponding to theat least one target; receive an indication, from the first wirelesstransceiver and via the second wireless transceiver, that the at leastone trigger has been pulled, the indication corresponding to the firingof a virtual weapon; receive orientation information from theorientation sensor; and determine, based on the orientation informationand the target information, whether the firing of the virtual weaponresulted in virtual damage to the at least one target.

The virtual weapon may be one of a rifle and a grenade launcher. Thegameplay device may comprise a plurality of triggers, and each of theplurality of triggers may correspond to a different virtual weapon. Thememory may store additional instructions for execution by the processorthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmitthe target information via the second wireless transceiver; and receive,via the second wireless transceiver, information about a location of asecond mobile device.

The terms “memory” and “computer-readable memory” are usedinterchangeably and, as used herein, refer to any tangible storageand/or transmission medium that participate in providing instructions toa processor for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, includingbut not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmissionmedia. Non-volatile media includes, for example, NVRAM, or magnetic oroptical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as mainmemory. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, afloppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any othermagnetic medium, magneto-optical medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, a solid state mediumlike a memory card, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier waveas described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread. A digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives is considered a distributionmedium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. When thecomputer-readable medium is configured as a database, it is to beunderstood that the database may be any type of database, such asrelational, hierarchical, object-oriented, and/or the like. Accordingly,the disclosure is considered to include a tangible storage medium ordistribution medium and prior art-recognized equivalents and successormedia, in which the software implementations of the present disclosureare stored.

The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” are open-endedexpressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. Forexample, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at leastone of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B,or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.When each one of A, B, and C in the above expressions refers to anelement, such as X, Y, and Z, or class of elements, such as X₁-X_(n),Y₁-Y_(m), and Z₁-Z_(o), the phrase is intended to refer to a singleelement selected from X, Y, and Z, a combination of elements selectedfrom the same class (e.g., X₁ and X₂) as well as a combination ofelements selected from two or more classes (e.g., Y₁ and Z_(o)).

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. Assuch, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can beused interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms“comprising”, “including”, and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide anunderstanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neitheran extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its variousaspects, embodiments, and configurations. It is intended neither toidentify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate thescope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of thedisclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detaileddescription presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects,embodiments, and configurations of the disclosure are possibleutilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features setforth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of thespecification to illustrate several examples of the present disclosure.These drawings, together with the description, explain the principles ofthe disclosure. The drawings simply illustrate preferred and alternativeexamples of how the disclosure can be made and used and are not to beconstrued as limiting the disclosure to only the illustrated anddescribed examples. Further features and advantages will become apparentfrom the following, more detailed, description of the various aspects,embodiments, and configurations of the disclosure, as illustrated by thedrawings referenced below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile device according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a gameplay device according to one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an augmented reality gaming app accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a glove according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the present disclosure are explained indetail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Further, the present disclosure mayuse examples to illustrate one or more aspects thereof. Unlessexplicitly stated otherwise, the use or listing of one or more examples(which may be denoted by “for example,” “by way of example,” “e.g.,”“such as,” or similar language) is not intended to and does not limitthe scope of the present disclosure.

With reference first to FIG. 1, a mobile device 100 for use inembodiments of the present disclosure may comprise, for example, aprocessor 104, an image sensor 108, a display 112, a wirelesstransceiver 116, a vibration motor 120, a location sensor 124, anorientation sensor 126, a memory 128, a power source 140, a microphone144, and a speaker 148.

The processor 104 may correspond to one or multiple microprocessors thatare contained within a housing of the mobile device 100. The processor104 may comprise a Central Processing Unit (CPU) on a single IntegratedCircuit (IC) or a few IC chips. The processor 104 may be a multipurpose,programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes thedigital data according to instructions stored in its internal memory,and provides results as output. The processor 104 may implementsequential digital logic, as it has internal memory. As with most knownmicroprocessors, the processor 104 may operate on numbers and symbolsrepresented in the binary numeral system. The processor 104 may executeinstructions stored in a firmware thereof, and may also executeinstructions stored in the memory 128. The processor 104 may be used tocontrol one or more aspects of one or more of the image sensor 108, thedisplay 112, the wireless transceiver 116, the sensor(s) 120, thelocation sensor 124, the power source 140, the microphone 144, and thespeaker 148. The processor 104 may also be used to read data from or towrite data to the memory 128, and may be configured to executeinstructions stored within the memory 128.

The image sensor 108 may be, for example, a digital camera, and may use,for example, a CMOS image sensor or a CCD device. The image sensor 108may comprise a lens, and may function by continuously and directlyreceiving a live image formed by the lens and projected by the lens ontoa CMOS image sensor, a CCD device, or other image sensor. The imagesensor 108 may convert the incoming light into electrical signals thatcan be used to display a live image, corresponding to the image formedby the lens, on the display 112. The image sensor 108 may include adedicated processor and/or memory, and may comprise various featuresknown to those of skill in the art, including, for example, opticalzoom, digital zoom, autofocus, vignetting, optical aberrationcorrection, and optical image stabilization. These features may beprovided as part of the image sensor 108 itself (e.g. as a set ofinstructions stored in dedicated memory of the image sensor 108, forexecution by a dedicated processor of the image sensor 108), in firmwarestored in the memory 128 and used to operate the image sensor 108, or inany other set of instructions available to the processor 104 or to adedicated image processor. The image sensor 108 may be manufactured, forexample and without limitation, by any one of Toshiba Corp., STMicroelectronics N.V., Sharp Corp., Omnivision Technologies, Inc., AXIS,and ON Semiconductor. The image sensor 108 may or may not be configuredto capture, and store in the memory 128, still photographs and/or videorecordings.

The display 112 may be used to display live images, animations, video,text, and/or information to a user of the mobile device 100. Inparticular, the display 112 may be used to display live images sensed bythe image sensor 108, and may further be used to display images,animations, text, and/or other information that is not received from theimage sensor 108. In some embodiments, the additional images,animations, text, and/or other information that is not received from theimage sensor 108 may be generated by the processor 104 or by anotherprocessor.

The display 112, which may in embodiments be an LCD screen, an LEDscreen, an OLED screen, an AMOLED screen, a Super AMOLED screen, a TFTscreen, an IPS screen, a TFT-LCD screen, or any other known variety ofscreen, may be a touchscreen, and may be used to present virtual buttonsor other controls to a user for setup of the mobile device 100 and/orfor setup of, or other interaction with, an AR gaming app 300 and/or agameplay device 200 (FIG. 2) or glove 400 (FIG. 4). Such virtual buttonsor controls may be useful, for example, for configuring settings of themobile device 100, such as wireless communication settings, volumesettings, and brightness settings; for accessing various apps or otherprograms available through the mobile device 100; and for controllingone or more aspects of an AR gaming app 300.

The wireless transceiver 116 comprises hardware that allows the mobiledevice 100 to join one or more communication networks, as well as toconnect with other devices having wireless communication capability. Forexample, the wireless transceiver 116 may allow the mobile device 100 toconnect with a cellular network, or with a WiFi or other wirelessnetwork. The wireless transceiver 116 may also allow the mobile device100 to connect directly with a smartphone, tablet, laptop, orBluetooth-enabled device. The wireless transceiver 116 may further allowthe mobile device 100 to connect with another computing or memory deviceequipped for wireless communications.

The wireless transceiver or wireless communication device 116 maycomprise one or more of a Bluetooth interface, a Wi-Fi card, a NetworkInterface Card (NIC), a cellular interface (e.g., antenna, filters, andassociated circuitry), a near field communication (NFC) interface, aZigBee interface, a FeliCa interface, a MiWi interface, a Bluetooth lowenergy (BLE) interface, or the like. Regardless of the protocol used bythe wireless transceiver 116, the wireless transceiver 116 may comprise,for example, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna, and may alsocomprise software or firmware needed to operate such components.

The vibration motor 120 may be the same as or similar to vibrationmotors commonly used in mobile devices, including mobile devices in theApple iPhone series, the Samsung Galaxy series, and others. Thevibration motor 120 may comprise a rotational motor that causesvibration by spinning an eccentric rotating mass (e.g. an unbalancedweight). Alternatively, the vibration motor 120 may comprise a linearmotor that causes vibration by moving a weight back and forth. In someembodiments, the vibration motor 120 may be a linear resonant motor, ora piezoelectric actuator. The vibration motor 120 may be activated, forexample, by the AR gaming app 300 in response to one or morepredetermined events.

The location sensor 124 may be any location sensor or combination oflocation sensors that enables the physical location of the mobile device100 to be determined. For example, the location sensor 124 may beequipped to use a space-based navigation system, such as the globalpositioning system (“GPS”) owned by the United States and operated bythe U.S. Air Force, and/or the global navigation satellite system(“GLONASS”) owned by Russia and operated by the Russian Federal SpaceAgency. The location sensor 124 may additionally or alternatively beequipped and configured to utilize multilateration of radio signalsreceived from a plurality of cell towers to determine location, and/orto determine location at least in part using one or more Wi-Fi signals.In some embodiments, the location sensor 124 may be configured toutilize a combination of two or more methods or systems for determininglocation. For example, the location sensor 124 may be configured to usea combination of GPS or GLONASS and multilateration using signals fromcell towers. The location sensor 124 may be or include, for example, aBroadcom BCM47734 chip, or a Broadcom BCM4773 or BCM4774 chip. Thelocation sensor 124 may additionally or alternatively be a chip orplurality of chips manufactured by any other manufacturer or combinationof manufacturers, such as, by way of example only, Futurlec, FurunoElectric Co., Sparkfun Electronics, Maxim Integrated, Naysync, SkyworksSolutions, Inc., and Qualcomm Inc.

The orientation sensor 126 may comprise one or more accelerometers, agyroscope, and/or any other sensors capable of determining orientationof the mobile device 100. In some embodiments, the orientation sensor126 may comprise a plurality of sensors, each of which may detectorientation on a single axis, or each of which may detect orientation onmultiple axes. In embodiments with a plurality of sensors, eachorientation sensor may be used to cross-check one or more otherorientation sensors to ensure accuracy. In some embodiments, theorientation sensor 126 may comprise a magnetic sensor such as a compass.In some embodiments, the orientation sensor 126 is capable ofdetermining orientation along at least one axis. For example, theorientation sensor 126 may be capable of determining in which compassdirection the mobile device 100 is pointed. In other embodiments, theorientation sensor 126 may be capable of determining orientation along aplurality of orthogonal axes. For example, the orientation sensor 126may be capable of determining in which compass direction the mobiledevice 100 is pointed (e.g. degree of yaw about a vertical axis), aswell as whether the mobile device 100 is pitched up or down (e.g. degreeof rotation about a first horizontal axis), and whether the mobiledevice 100 is rolled left or right (e.g. degree of rotation about asecond horizontal axis orthogonal to the first horizontal axis). Theorientation sensor 126 may comprise one or more micro-electro-mechanicalsystem (MEMS) sensors, such as a MEMS gyroscope manufactured bySTMicroelectronics.

The memory 128 may correspond to any type of non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the memory 128 maycomprise volatile or non-volatile memory and a controller for the same.Non-limiting examples of memory 128 that may be utilized in the mobiledevice 100 include RAM, ROM, buffer memory, flash memory, solid-statememory, or variants thereof. The memory 128 may be accessible by theprocessor 104 via, for example, a Serial Peripheral Interface bus.

The memory 128 may store an AR gaming app 300 such as that describedbelow in connection with FIG. 3. The memory 128 may also comprise a datastorage section 136, which may store any electronic data correspondingto, for example, data used by the AR gaming app 300 and/or data saved tothe data storage section 136 by the AR gaming app 300. Such data may beor comprise, for example, scoring data (including high score data), gameprogress data, game history data, video replay files, and screenshots.The memory 128 may also store, whether in the data storage section 136or elsewhere, instructions for execution by the processor 104. Suchinstructions may comprise, for example, instructions that enable themobile device 100 to utilize one or more of the various components ofthe mobile device 100 (e.g., firmware, drivers), and/or to carry outoperations and functions beyond those described herein. In someembodiments, the memory stores an operating system and a plurality ofapps, in addition to the AR gaming app 300.

The power source 140 may comprise one or more batteries or other energystorage devices storing energy for powering the processor 104, the imagesensor 108, and the other powered components of the mobile device 100.The batteries or other energy storage devices may be removable andreplaceable, and/or the batteries may be rechargeable. In embodimentswith rechargeable batteries, the mobile device 100 may comprise a portconfigured to receive a wire or cable for recharging the one or morebatteries or other energy storage devices. Additionally, the powersource 140 may comprise circuitry for receiving power from the one ormore batteries, other energy storage devices, and/or an external source,and for accomplishing any signal transformation, conversion orconditioning needed to provide an appropriate power signal to suchcomponents. In some embodiments, an external power source may beconnected to the mobile device 100 for powering the mobile device 100when the power source 140 is depleted.

The microphone 144 may be useful, for example, to capture verbal orother audible communications from a user of the mobile device 100 fortransmission to one or more other users of mobile devices utilizing anAR gaming app 300. For example, during multiplayer use of the AR gamingapp 300, a user of the mobile device 100 may communicate with otherparticipants in the multiplayer session using the microphone 144 (andthe speaker 148, described below). Such communications may betransmitted via the wireless transceiver 116 using any availablecommunication network (including a Wi-Fi network and/or a cellularnetwork), or using a direct, peer-to-peer connection. In someembodiments, the microphone 144 may also be used to capture verbalcommands for controlling one or more aspects of the AR gaming app 300.In such embodiments, the processor 104 may be configured to detect,interpret, and respond to such verbal commands by executing one or moreinstructions stored in the memory 128 and corresponding to the givencommand.

The speaker 148 may be used for playing audible sounds, whether suchsounds are originated by the AR gaming app 300 (e.g. background music;sound effects; verbal instructions, commentary, or feedback), orreceived via the wireless transceiver 116 (e.g. voice or other audiblecommunications transmitted by mobile devices of other players of the ARgaming app 300), or based on data stored in the memory 128. The speaker148 may be any speaker suitable for use in a relatively small electronicdevice such as a tablet, smartphone, or other mobile device.

The mobile device 100 may comprise, in some embodiments, othercomponents not listed here. The mobile device 100 may also comprise, insome embodiments, fewer than all of the components identified above.Also in some embodiments, the function or functions of two or morecomponents described above may be provided by a single component ordevice, while the function or functions of one component described abovemay be provided by a plurality of components or devices.

FIG. 2 depicts a gameplay device 200 for use in connection with the ARgaming app 300. The gameplay device 200 is in the form of a gun orpistol, with a handle 220 and a barrel 208. In other embodiments, thegameplay device 200 may have a different form. Additionally, while thefeatures of the gameplay device 200 are described herein ascorresponding to components or aspects of a gun, persons of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that similar features may be provided ascorresponding to components or aspects of a gameplay device 200 having adifferent form.

The gameplay device 200 comprises a mount 204 for holding a mobiledevice 100. The mount 204 is configured to orient the mobile device 100so that a display 112 of the mobile device 100 is visible by a user ofthe gameplay device 200. The mount 204 is also configured to hold themobile device 100 without inhibiting the operation of an image sensor108 of the mobile device 100. The image sensor 108 is positioned on theopposite side of the mobile device 100 as the display 112, so as tosense the visible environment of the gameplay device 200 in thedirection of the barrel 208 (e.g. in front of the gameplay device 200).

The mount 204 may be adjustable by the user. For example, the mount 204may be slidable along the length of the barrel 208. The mount 204 maypermit the mobile device 100 to be oriented to different configurations,including with a slant or tilt to one side of the gameplay device 200 orthe other, and/or with a slant or tilt downward toward the gameplaydevice 200 or upward away from the gameplay device 200. Providing theability to customize the orientation of the mobile device 100 byadjusting the mount 204 may beneficially permit users of the gameplaydevice 200 to configure the gameplay device 200 to better suit theirindividual physical attributes and their individual preferences, thusresulting in greater user satisfaction.

In some embodiments, the mount 204 may comprise a cable or other wire orcollection of wires that may be removably attached to a port on themobile device 100. Such a cable, wire, or collection of wires may beused to provide power (e.g. electricity) to the mobile device 100,and/or for the transfer of data to or from the mobile device 100.

The gameplay device 200 also comprises a Bluetooth module 216 or otherwireless transceiver. The Bluetooth module 216 is configured tocommunicate wirelessly with the mobile device 100. In some embodiments,the Bluetooth module 216 may be configured only to transmit signals tothe mobile device 100, but not to receive signals from the mobile device100. In other embodiments, any wireless transceiver configured tobroadcast electromagnetic signals, such as a Wi-Fi adapter or a cellularphone chip, may be utilized instead of the Bluetooth module 216. TheBluetooth module 216 may be equipped to communicate wirelessly using theBluetooth protocol, and/or using the Bluetooth low energy (BLE)protocol. In embodiments using a wireless transceiver configured forwireless communications using a protocol other than a Bluetooth or BLEprotocol, the wireless transceiver may be the same as or similar to thewireless transceiver 116 of the mobile device 100.

Transmission of one or more signals from the Bluetooth module 216 to themobile device 100 occurs in response to a user of the gameplay device200 pulling or otherwise activating one or both of the triggers 212 aand 212 b. Each trigger 212 a and 212 b causes a different signal orplurality of signals to be sent from the Bluetooth module 216 to themobile device 100, such that the mobile device 100 (or, moreparticularly, the processor 104 of the mobile device 100) candistinguish between an indication that the trigger 212 a has beenactivated and an indication that the trigger 212 b has been activated.In some embodiments, the gameplay device 200 may comprise one or moreadditional triggers such as the triggers 212 a and 212 b. The gameplaydevice 200 may also comprise one or more other buttons, switches,toggles, and/or other devices, the activation or adjustment of each ofwhich may cause a distinct signal to be sent from the Bluetooth module216 to the mobile device 100. The activation of the triggers 212 a and212 b and/or of any other buttons, switches, toggles, or other devicesprovided on the gameplay device 200 may correspond to specific aspectsof the AR gaming app 300 (such as the firing of a virtual weapon), asdiscussed in greater detail below. Although the gameplay device 200 isdepicted has having two triggers 212, the gameplay device 200 may haveonly one trigger in some embodiments. Additionally, in some embodiments,one or more user interfaces other than a trigger may be provided on thegameplay device 200 instead of the triggers 212.

The gameplay device 200 comprises, in at least some embodiments, a powersource 228. The power source 228 may be configured to provide power tothe Bluetooth module 216, and/or to provide supplemental power to themobile device 100 (e.g. to extend the life of a power source 140 of themobile device 100, and thus to enable longer use of the mobile device100). In some embodiments, the gameplay device 200 may comprise otherpowered components, each of which may be powered by the power source228. Like the power source 140, the power source 228 may comprise one ormore batteries or other energy storage devices storing energy forpowering the Bluetooth module 216 and, in embodiments with other poweredcomponents on the gameplay device 200, the other powered components ofthe gameplay device 200. The batteries or other energy storage devicesmay be removable and replaceable, and/or the batteries may berechargeable. In embodiments with rechargeable batteries, the powersource 228 may comprise a port configured to receive a wire or cable forrecharging the one or more batteries or other energy storage devices.Additionally, the power source 228 may comprise circuitry for receivingpower from a battery or other energy storage device or from an externalsource and accomplishing any signal transformation, conversion orconditioning needed to provide an appropriate power signal to suchcomponents.

In some embodiments, including the illustrated embodiment, the powersource 228 may be integrated into a grip 224 or other existing componentof the gameplay device 200. In other embodiments, the power source 228may be shaped or otherwise provided with or in the form of a bulletmagazine, or in the barrel 208. The power source 228 may be integratedinto a removable component of the gameplay device 200, so that it can beeasily removed for recharging, and/or replaced with a similar oridentical component with a fresh power source 228. In embodiments of thegameplay device 200 in which the Bluetooth module 216 is the onlypowered component of the gameplay device 200, the power source 228 maybeneficially need only a minimal amount of power for operation, thusreducing the need for an easily replaceable and/or rechargeable powersource 228.

In some embodiments, the gameplay device 200 may comprise, instead of orin addition to a power source 228, a port for receiving power from anexternal power source, such as the mobile device 100.

The gameplay device 200 further comprises a vibration motor 232, whichmay be the same as or similar to the vibration motor 120 on the mobiledevice 100. As with the vibration motor 120, the vibration motor 232 maybe activated, for example, by the AR gaming app 300 in response to oneor more predetermined events, such as the firing of a virtual weapon bya user of the mobile device 100 and AR gaming app 300, or when the userof the mobile device 100 and AR gaming app 300 is virtually “hit” by anenemy's virtual weapon.

Turning to FIG. 3, an AR gaming app 300 may comprise a plurality ofmodules, including, by way of example but not limitation, a settingsmodule 304; an imaging module 308; a location module 312; an orientationmodule 316; a fire control module 320; a competition module 324; atarget module 328, and a multiplayer module 332. The AR gaming app 300may comprise additional or fewer modules. In some embodiments, some orall of the features of one of the modules described herein may becombined with some or all of the features of another one or more of themodules described herein. Also in some embodiments, the featuresdescribed herein as included within one module could be provided in twoor more separate modules.

Additionally, each of the modules described herein may compriseinstructions for execution by the processor 104 of the mobile device100, and/or by another processor of the mobile device 100. One or moreof the modules may also comprise stored data for use by the processor104 when executing the instructions contained in the module. Such datamay include, for example, one or more graphics files for use ingenerating graphics for display on the display 112 of the mobile device100, and/or one or more sound files for use in generating sounds on thespeaker 148 of the mobile device 100. One or more of the modules mayfurther cause data to be stored in the memory 128 as a result ofexecuting the instructions contained in the module. Such data mayinclude, for example, game progress data; saved game data; screenshotscaptured during gameplay; videos captured during gameplay; individualand/or team scores; past individual and/or team scores; high scores; anduser preferences.

The AR gaming app 300 allows a user of the mobile device 100 to play anaugmented reality game, in which the user moves through his or heractual physical environment with the gameplay device 200 and the mobiledevice 100, and uses the gameplay device 200 and moblile device 100 tovirtually shoot at or otherwise interact with virtual targets or otherobjects that are depicted on the screen 112 of the mobile device 100. Insome embodiments, the augmented reality game may be a multiplayer game,in which each player has a gameplay device 200 and a mobile device 100.In a multiplayer game, the players may use their respective mobiledevice 100 and gameplay device 200 to virtually shoot at other players,in addition to or instead of virtually shooting at or otherwiseinteracting with virtual objects displayed on their respective screens112.

The settings module 304 may comprise instructions for execution by theprocessor that, when executed by the processor, cause one or moreconfiguration options to be presented to the user (e.g., via the display112). The settings module 304 may contain instructions allowing the userto select, for example, whether to play a single player or multiplayergame; a hardness level for the game (e.g., easy, medium, difficult,insane); a theme for the game (e.g. zombies, aliens, cops and robbers,soldiers and terrorists, robots, war machines); a soundtrack for thegame; a weapon (or a plurality of weapons) for the game; and weaponfeatures for the game. The settings module 304 may also compriseinstructions, for example, allowing the user to configure wirelesscommunication settings for the game, set volume levels for the game,pair a gameplay device 200 with the mobile device 100 for the game,and/or download and install updates for the AR gaming app 300. Thesettings module 304 may initialize upon launching of the AR gaming app300, and/or may be accessible to the user before and/or during a game byselecting an icon, a menu item, or another link that accesses thesettings module 304.

The imaging module 308 may comprise instructions for causing theprocessor 104 to generate images for display on the display 112. Theimages caused to be displayed by the imaging module 308 may be based oninformation received from one or more other modules of the AR gaming app300. For example, when the AR gaming app 300 is first opened, theimaging module 308 may cause the processor 104 to display graphics basedon information received from the settings module 304, allowing the userto select a type of game, a game theme, and a game difficulty level. Aspersons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate based on thepresent disclosure, a plurality of modules of the AR gaming app 300 maybe executed or otherwise utilized simultaneously to present a seamlesspresentation to the user.

During gameplay, the imaging module 308 may be configured to activatethe image sensor 108 and to continuously display, on the display 112, alive image received through a lens of or associated with the imagesensor 108. This live image constitutes a digital depiction of a portionof the user's actual environment. For example, if the user (togetherwith the user's mobile device 100) is facing a forest, then the liveimage caused to be displayed on the display 112 by the imaging module308 may be the portion of the forest within the field of view of theimage sensor 108. If the user (together with the user's mobile device100) is facing a room, then the live image displayed on the display 112by the imaging module 308 may be the portion of the room within thefield of view of the image sensor 108. The imaging module 308 may alsobe configured to generate one or more graphics, and to overlay thegraphics on the live image, so that the user sees not just an image ofreality (e.g., the depiction of the user's real environment), but ratheran image that combines real environment with computer-generatedgraphics, or augmented reality. The graphics may be or include, forexample, graphical depictions of targets to be shot by the user(generated based at least in part on information from the target module328), and one or more textual or graphical presentations regarding thestatus of the user's character within the game. For example, suchtextual or graphical presentations may provide information to the userabout the location of the user's character within the game arena. Thegame arena may be defined by actual physical boundaries (e.g. fences,sidewalks, roads, buildings) detected by accessing a mapping databasesuch as Google Maps or Apple Maps, or a satellite imagery database suchas Google Earth, or may be defined by virtual boundaries selected by theAR gaming app 300 or input by a user of the AR gaming app 300. Theimaging module 308 may or may not cause one or more graphics depictingor highlighting the boundaries of the game arena to be displayed on thedisplay 112.

In some embodiments, the imaging module 308 may comprise instructionsfor analyzing the image(s) sensed by the image sensor 108 and overlayingone or more computer-generated graphical elements on the image sensed bythe image sensor 108 so as to give the appearance that thecomputer-generated graphical elements are interacting with the actualenvironment. For example, the imaging module 308 may be configured todisplay a target (e.g., a zombie, an alien, a robber, a terrorist, arobot, a war machine) in such a way as to give the appearance that thetarget is hiding or otherwise at least partially concealed behind anactual environmental feature, such as a tree, bush, building, fence, orhill.

The location module 312 may comprise instructions for determining alocation of the mobile device 100, whether relative to a defined gamearena, relative to other players in a game hosted by the AR gaming app300, and/or relative to the physical world. The location module 312 may,for example, comprise instructions for accessing and utilizing thelocation sensor 124, so as to obtain location information from thelocation sensor 124. The location module 312 may further compriseinformation about a defined game arena, other players in the game, orthe physical world (which information may be obtained, for example, byuser input, from the mobile devices of other players in the game, and/orfrom a mapping database, a terrain database, or another geographicinformation system). The location module 312 may also compriseinstructions for reporting a determined location to one or more of theimaging module 308 (e.g. to assist the imaging module 308 inconsistently presenting targets or other virtual information on thedisplay 112) and/or the other modules of the AR gaming app 300.

The orientation module 316 may comprise instructions for determining anorientation of the mobile device 100. The orientation module 316 may,for example, comprise instructions for accessing and utilizing theorientation sensor 126, so as to obtain orientation information from theorientation sensor 126. The orientation module may further be configuredto provide orientation data to the imaging module 308, so as to enhancethe ability of the imaging module 308 to depict virtual targets as theywould be seen by the user based on the orientation of the mobile device100. The orientation module 316 may also be configured to provideorientation data to the fire control module 320, for use by the firecontrol module 320 in determining the accuracy of shots fired by theuser during a game hosted by the AR gaming app 300.

The fire control module 320 may comprise instructions for receivinginformation about the location and orientation of the mobile device 100from the location module 312 and the orientation module 316,respectively, and may also comprise instructions for receiving targetinformation from the target module 328. Using this information, the firecontrol module 320 may track the relative position and orientation ofthe user of the mobile device 100, of any other players participating inthe game, and of all (or at least nearby) targets in the game.

The fire control module 320 may further comprise instructions forreceiving information about activation of a trigger 212 on the gameplaydevice 200 from the Bluetooth module 216 of the gameplay device 200, viathe wireless transceiver 116 of the mobile device 100. Using thisinformation, together with the tracked relative position and orientationof the various players and targets in the game and information about theparticular weapon selected by the user of the mobile device 100 for thegame (including, for example, information about the maximum range of theweapon, and the accuracy of the weapon at various ranges), the firecontrol module 320 can determine whether a given shot has hit a giventarget. In other words, the fire control module 320 determines whetherthe mobile device 100 was pointed in the right direction (based on thelocation of the mobile device 100 and the location of a given target) tohit the target. In some embodiments, the fire control module 320 mayalso obtain real-time weather data from an online weather database, andinclude effects of temperature, windspeed, humidity, air pressure,and/or other characteristics when calculating whether a given shot hashit a given target.

In making calculations to determine whether a given shot has hit a giventarget, the fire control module 320 may be programmed to calculate alikelihood that the shot would have hit the target under the existingconditions, and to score the shot as on-target if the likelihood isgreater than a threshold amount. The threshold amount, moreover, mayvary depending on whether the user of the game selected an easy game, amedium game, or a hard game. Also in some embodiments, the difficultyselection made by the user may be used to vary the size of the targetused for calculating whether a given shot would have been on target. Forexample, when calculating whether a shot was on-target in an easy game,the fire control module 320 may be configured to treat the target asrelatively large (such that a greater range of orientations of themobile device 100, from a greater variety of locations of the mobiledevice 100, would be likely to hit the target). However, whencalculating whether a shot was on-target in a hard game, the firecontrol module 320 may be configured to treat the target as relativelysmall (such that a smaller range of orientations of the mobile device100, from a smaller variety of locations of the mobile device 100, wouldbe likely to hit the target). The size of the target used by the firecontrol module 320 to determine whether a given shot has hit the targetmay or may not correspond to the size of the target as the target isvisually depicted on the display 112 by the imaging module 308. In otherwords, the imaging module 308 may display an image of a small target(e.g. a small alien, a small zombie, a small robot, a small tank, asmall fighter jet, a small spaceship), but the fire control module 320may utilize target dimensions that are greater than those of thedisplayed target when calculating whether the target was hit by aparticular shot.

Among the variables that may be included in the fire control module'scalculations regarding whether a given shot has hit a target are: 1) thespeed and direction of movement of the user (e.g. of the mobile device100) that fired the shot; 2) the speed and direction of movement of thetarget; 3) any changes in the speed and direction of movement of thetarget, and if so whether those changes reflect a clear pattern (e.g.whether the target is maneuvering to evade fire); 4) actual or simulatedweather conditions; 5) target size; 6) virtual weapon type (e.g. pistol,shotgun, rifle, sniper rifle, grenade, bazooka, rocket, missile, bomb);7) virtual weapon destructiveness (e.g. a bomb will cause greaterdestruction than a pistol shot); 8) distance between the shooter and thetarget; 9) virtual weapon range; 10) mobile device 100 orientation attime of firing shot; and 11) real or virtual obstacles betweenuser/weapon and target. Some or all of these variables, as well asadditional variables not listed here but that will be evident to personsof ordinary skill in the art based upon the present disclosure, may beconsidered by the fire control module 320 in determining whether a givenshot has hit a target.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fire control module320 may be configured to treat any damage to a target as a “kill.” Inother embodiments, the fire control module 320 may be configured tocalculate an amount of damage caused to a target by a given shot, andeach target may be given a predetermined amount of “health” or apredetermined number of “hit points” from which any damage amountsustained by the target is subtracted. In these embodiments, the firecontrol module only registers a target “kill” if the most recent shotthat damaged the target caused the target's remaining “health” or “hitpoints” to reach zero. Here again, the fire control module may beconfigured to consider a plurality of variables in determining theamount of damage sustained by a target as a result of a particular shot,including but not limited to 1) the weapon type; 2) the weapondestructiveness; 3) the accuracy of the shot; 4) a “toughness” of thetarget (which may include or be based on whether the target is armoredor otherwise shielded); and 5) whether any obstacles deflected the shotor otherwise shielded the target from greater damage from the shot.

Use of a fire control module 320 (or similar instructions, regardless ofwhether they are contained in a fire control module 320) to determinewhether a given shot has hit a given target beneficially eliminates theneed for the gameplay device 200 to comprise infrared or otherdirectional transceivers for transmitting virtual “shots” to a targetand detecting whether the gameplay device 200 has been “hit” by any suchvirtual “shots.” This, in turn, reduces the cost of manufacturing thegameplay device 200 while reducing the number of powered electricalcomponents needed on the gameplay device 200, allowing for one or bothof smaller batteries and increased battery life.

The competition module 324 may track points accumulated by the user orusers of a game hosted by the AR gaming app 300. For example, thecompetition module 324 may track the number of “hits” a user scores(e.g. the number of shots fired by the user that cause damage to atarget); the number of “kills” a user scores (e.g. the number of targetsthat are eliminated or otherwise treated as sufficiently damaged by theuser to qualify as “killed”); the number of shots evaded by the user;whether the user protected a teammate from enemy fire; the amount ofvirtual damage sustained by the user; and/or whether the user achievedany objectives other than eliminating targets (e.g. whether the user“captured” an enemy headquarters or an enemy flag, whether the usercleared a given area of the game arena of targets, whether the usersuccessfully advanced beyond a predetermined threshold within the gamearena). The competition module 324 may report point totals to the useror users of the AR gaming app 300, for example by providing informationto the imaging module 308 that the imaging module 308 uses to displaythe point totals on the display screen 112. The competition module 324may rank each user in a given game against other users in the game, andmay identify as a winner of a given game the user with the highest pointtotal. The competition module 324 may further cause a user's point totaland/or game statistics (e.g. number of shots fired, accuracy of shotsfired, amount of damage inflicted, number of targets killed) to betransmitted by a wireless transceiver 116 to the cloud, so that the usercan be ranked against other users of the AR gaming app 300. In someembodiments, the competition module 324 may track a user's point totalsand game statistics over a plurality of games, and may cause an updatedpoint total and/or updated game statistics to be transmitted to thecloud via the wireless transceiver 116 for comparison with and/orranking against other users of the AR gaming app 300.

The target module 328 may comprise instructions for generating virtualtargets to be displayed by the imaging module 308, and/or for providinginformation about virtual targets to the fire control module 324. Thetarget module 328 may track, based on information received from the firecontrol module 320, which targets are “alive,” which targets have been“killed” or otherwise eliminated, and/or how much “health” or how many“hit points” each remaining target possesses. In generating virtualtargets, the target module 328 may consider, among other variables, 1) adifficulty level selected by a user or users for the game in question;2) the overall success of the user or users in damaging and/oreliminating previously generated targets; 3) the types of targetsalready in the game (e.g., if a virtual fighter jet has already beengenerated, the target module 328 may generate a tank instead of anotherfighter jet); and 4) objects identified in the image captured by theimage sensor 108 (e.g. if a tree is identified in an image sensed by theimage sensor 108, then the target module 328 may generate atree-dwelling target or other target that relates to or is equipped touse the tree; if water is identified in an image sensed by the imagesensor 108, then the target module 328 may generate a boat or otherwater craft, or other water-based enemy).

In some embodiments, the target module 328 may also track the virtual“health” or remaining “hit points” of the user, based on informationreceived from the fire control module 320 about virtual damage sustainedby the user. The target module 328 may comprise instructions forgenerating virtual objects that can restore a user's (or a target's)health or hit points if the user shoots, virtually picks up, or movesinto the same location as such virtual objects.

The multiplayer module 332 may comprise instructions enabling theprocessor 104 of the mobile device 100 to communicate with one or moreother mobile devices 100 also running an AR gaming app 300 during amultiplayer gaming session hosted by the AR gaming app 300 on the mobiledevice 100. During multiplayer gaming sessions, some functions of thevarious modules of the AR gaming app 300 may be provided only by oneinstance of the AR gaming app 300 (e.g. the instance that is running onthe mobile device 100 of the user hosting the multiplayer gamingsession), while other functions may be provided locally by the localinstance of the AR gaming app 300 running on the mobile device 100 ofeach user participating in the multiplayer gaming session. In otherembodiments of the present disclosure, each instance of the AR gamingapp 300 running on the mobile devices 100 of the participants in themultiplayer gaming session may function as normal, and the multiplayermodule 332 of each instance of the AR gaming app 300 may facilitate thesharing of any information that needs to be shared from one mobiledevice 100 to one or more of the other mobile devices 100 involved inthe multiplayer gaming session, to ensure that the participants in themultiplayer gaming session are having a consistent experience (e.g. thateach participant is fighting the same targets, that the location of thetargets as seen by each participant is the same, that damage to a targetby one participant is taken into account for other participants).

Each mobile device 100 of a user participating in the multiplayer gamingsession may, for example, utilize an imaging module 308 stored in thememory 128 of the mobile device 100 to generate images for display onthe screen 112 of the mobile device 100. Similarly, a fire controlmodule 320 stored in the memory 128 of each mobile device 100 may beused to determine whether the user of that mobile device hassuccessfully inflicted virtual damage or achieved virtual kills againsttargets and/or other participants in the multiplayer gaming session.However, in some embodiments, only the target module 308 (for example)of the AR gaming app 300 stored in the memory 128 of the mobile device100 that is actually hosting the multiplayer gaming session may generatetarget information for targets seen by all players in the game.

The multiplayer module 332 may, therefore, coordinate communicationswith other mobile devices 100 involved in a multiplayer gaming sessionvia the wireless transceiver 116. In some embodiments, suchcommunications may occur over a public WiFi network with coverage overan entire geographic area, such as a city block or a plurality of cityblocks. In such embodiments, a game hosted by the AR gaming app 300 maytake place throughout the entire geographic area in which WiFi coverageis available. In other embodiments, such communications may occur over alocal area WiFi network with coverage over, for example, an entirebuilding, an entire building floor, or a purpose-built indoor or outdoorgaming arena (such as might be used for paintball, laser tag, or similargames). In still other embodiments, such communications may occur over acellular network, which may enable the game to be played over as largeor small a geographic area as desired by the participants of the game,limited only by the coverage of the cellular network. In furtherembodiments, such communications may occur over a peer-to-peerconnection, whether using a WiFi, Bluetooth, or other communicationsprotocol. In some embodiments, a dedicated WiFi hub may be used tofacilitate communications among mobile devices 100 participating in asingle multiplayer gaming session.

The multiplayer module 332 also facilitates the sharing, for example, oflocation information and orientation information among mobile devices100 participating in a gaming session. The multiplayer module 332 mayadditionally facilitate the sharing, among the mobile devices 100 ofusers participating in the gaming session, of such information as theremaining “health” or “hit points” of the user associated with eachmobile device, the “toughness” of the user associated with each mobiledevice (e.g. how resistant is the user to virtual damage, which may insome embodiments be based on a skill level of the user, as determined bysuch factors as total number of targets eliminated, total number ofgames won, total score, and/or number of hours played), and/or of thescore achieved by each player (which may be based upon, for example,shot accuracy statistics, total virtual damage inflicted on targetsand/or other users, total number of virtual “kills”). In someembodiments, the multiplayer module 332 may facilitate the sharing,among the mobile devices 100 of users in the multiplayer gaming session,of actions taken by each user. For example, if one user fires a shot,information about the fired shot (such as type of weapon fired, locationfrom which the weapon was fired, location at which the fired shotexploded (if applicable)) may be shared with the mobile devices 100 ofother users, which may in turn display an animation of the shot beingfired by the user (if the user is visible on the display 112 of themobile device 100 of any of the other users), and/or may cause a speaker148 of the mobile devices of other users to play a sound correspondingto the firing of the shot, and/or may display an animation of the firedshot exploding (if applicable).

The multiplayer module 332 may also comprise instructions forinteracting with the other modules of the AR gaming app 300. Forexample, the multiplayer module 332 may provide information about thelocation and orientation of other mobile devices 100 participating inthe gaming session to the target module 328 (which may, in turn, use theinformation to generate targets in appropriate locations, and/or tocause generated targets to move, act, or react based upon the movementsand/or actions of the plurality of mobile devices 100 participating inthe gaming session). The multiplayer module 332 may also receive targetinformation (including, for example, location and orientationinformation for a given target, a target type, and/or remaining “health”or “hit points” of a target) from the target module 328, and may causethe sharing of such information with the mobile devices 100 of otherusers in the gaming session. The mobile devices 100 of other users inthe gaming session may receive the target information and provide it toan imaging module 308 of an AR gaming app 300 running thereon, whichimaging module 308 may selectively display to each user on the screen112 of each user's mobile device 100 the targets that are in the fieldof view of the user. When the target information includes orientationinformation about the target, the target is displayed on the screen 112of the mobile device 100 of each user who is located and oriented sothat the target is within the user's field of view. Further, the targetmay be displayed based on the target's location and orientation and theuser's location and orientation, so that if a user is standing in frontof but looking at the target, the user will see the front of the target,while another user standing in back of but looking at the target willsee the back of the target.

In some embodiments, a multiplayer gaming session hosted by the ARgaming app 300 may be configured so that all participants in themultiplayer gaming session are working together to eliminate targetsgenerated by the target module 328 (and/or to accomplish other gameobjectives, such as virtually capturing a particular territory or flag,or crossing a particular threshold without being virtually killed). Inother embodiments, a multiplayer gaming session may be configured sothat some or all of the participants in the multiplayer gaming sessionare virtually battling or otherwise working against each other (whetherindividually or in teams). In such embodiments, the multiplayer module332 may also provide information about the location and orientation ofother mobile devices 100 participating in the gaming session to the firecontrol module 320, which may use such information to determine whethera virtual shot fired by the mobile device 100 has virtually hit and/ordamaged another user. In such embodiments, the mobile device 100 of auser that has been virtually hit and/or damaged may display one or moreimages or animations that indicate to the user that the user has beenvirtually hit and/or damaged, and may also reduce the functionality ofthe mobile device 100 of the virtually hit and/or damaged user (withinthe AR gaming app 300) based on the amount of virtual damage sustained.

As noted previously, the various functions described above with respectto the settings module 304, the imaging module 308, the location module312, the orientation module 316, the fire control module 320, thecompetition module 324, the target module 328, and the multiplayermodule 332 may be combined into fewer modules or divided into a greaternumber of modules. In particular, the function(s) of any two or moremodules may be combined into a single module, and the function(s) of anyone module may be divided into two or more modules.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a glove 400 may be used instead of a gameplaydevice 200 in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The glove 400comprises a Bluetooth module 404, which may be the same as orsubstantially similar to the Bluetooth module 216, and may comprise apower source (e.g. a battery). The glove 400 also comprises a pluralityof sensors 408 a-d, located on a palm portion of the glove 400, witheach sensor 408 a-d positioned to detect a touch or tap of a fingertip412 a-d, respectively, or to detect that a fingertip 412 a-d has movedwithin close proximity of the sensor 408 a-d. In some embodiments, thefingertips 412 a-d may comprise a magnet to facilitate sensing of thelocation of the fingertips 412 a-d by the sensors 408 a-d. Such magnetsmay be sufficiently unique from each other to allow the sensors 408 a-dto identify a location of each specific fingertip 412 a-d.

The glove 400 may further comprise a button or other input device 416,positioned to be activated by the thumb of a user of the glove 400.

In operation, the Bluetooth module 404 of the glove 400 may be pairedwith a mobile device, such as the mobile device 100. Unlike with thegameplay device 200, in embodiments of the present disclosure utilizinga glove 400, the mobile device 100 is not secured or otherwise attachedto the glove 400. The mobile device 100 may instead be held by the user(e.g. by a hand other than the hand wearing the glove 400), or supportedby a hat or other headgear worn by the user so that the display 112 ispositioned within the user's line of sight, or otherwise located so thatthe user can see the display 112 and an image sensor 108 can captureimages of the physical environment in front of or faced by the user.

With the Bluetooth module 404 paired to a mobile device 100, the glove400 may be used in substantially the same way as the gameplay device200. More specifically, each sensor 408 a-d may act as a trigger forfiring a separate weapon or accomplishing other gameplay functions.Thus, when the user moves, for example, fingertip 412 a adjacent thesensor 408 a, the sensor 408 a may send a signal to the Bluetooth module404, which may in turn send a signal or a plurality of signals to themobile device 100 indicating that the sensor 408 a has been activated.This signal or plurality of signals may have the same effect as thesignal or plurality of signals received by the mobile device 100indicating that the trigger 212 a has been activated. By including foursensors 408 a-d with the glove 400, up to four separate “triggers” maybe simulated by the glove 400.

Additionally, the button 416 may be used to cause an imaging module 308to cycle through different types of information displayed on the displayscreen 112 of a connected mobile device 100, or to cycle throughdifferent functions of one or more of the sensors 408 a-d. For example,activation of the sensor 408 a may selectively cause a rifle shot to befired, or result in a virtual “pick-up” motion (e.g. to allow the userto “pick up” virtual health kits, hit point restoration kits, armorkits, and/or weapon kits that are displayed on the screen 112). In suchembodiments, activation of the button 416 may determine which action istriggered by the sensor 408 a. The button 416 may also be used, in someembodiments, to select from among a plurality of menu items displayed onthe display 112 before, during, or after a game hosted by the AR gamingapp 300.

The sensors 408 a-d may be powered by the same power source that powersthe Bluetooth module 404, which may or may not be replaceable and/orrechargeable. Alternatively, the sensors 408 a-d may be powered by aseparate power source, also replaceable and/or rechargeable in someembodiments, from the Bluetooth module 404. In still other embodiments,each sensor 408 a-d may comprise a separate power source, which againmay be replaceable and/or rechargeable. The sensors 408 a-d may be inwired or wireless connection with the Bluetooth module 404.Additionally, the glove 400 may comprise a power switch for turning theBluetooth module 404 and/or the sensors 408 a-d on and off.

A number of variations and modifications of the foregoing disclosure canbe used. It would be possible to provide for some features of thedisclosure without providing others.

Although the present disclosure describes components and functionsimplemented in the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations withreference to particular standards and protocols, the aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations are not limited to such standards andprotocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned hereinare in existence and are considered to be included in the presentdisclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein andother similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein areperiodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents included in thepresent disclosure.

The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/orconfigurations, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/orapparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, includingvarious aspects, embodiments, configurations embodiments,subcombinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art willunderstand how to make and use the disclosed aspects, embodiments,and/or configurations after understanding the present disclosure. Thepresent disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/orconfigurations, includes providing devices and processes in the absenceof items not depicted and/or described herein or in various aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations hereof, including in the absence ofsuch items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g.,for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost ofimplementation.

The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustrationand description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosureto the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing DetailedDescription, for example, various features of the disclosure are groupedtogether in one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects,embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure may be combined inalternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than thosediscussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claims require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a singleforegoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodimentof the disclosure.

Moreover, though the description has included description of one or moreaspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain variations andmodifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications arewithin the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill andknowledge of those in the art, after understanding the presentdisclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternativeaspects, embodiments, and/or configurations to the extent permitted,including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures,functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not suchalternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

Examples of the processors as described herein may include, but are notlimited to, at least one of Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 800 and 801, Qualcomm®Snapdragon® 610 and 615 with 4G LTE Integration and 64-bit computing,Apple® A7 processor with 64-bit architecture, Apple® M7 motioncoprocessors, Samsung® Exynos® series, the Intel® Core™ family ofprocessors, the Intel® Xeon® family of processors, the Intel® Atom™family of processors, the Intel Itanium® family of processors, Intel®Core® i5-4670K and i7-4770K 22nm Haswell, Intel® Core® i5-3570K 22 nmIvy Bridge, the AMD® FX™ family of processors, AMD® FX-4300, FX-6300,and FX-8350 32 nm Vishera, AMD® Kaveri processors, Texas Instruments®Jacinto C6000™ automotive infotainment processors, Texas Instruments®OMAP™ automotive-grade mobile processors, ARM® Cortex™-M processors, andARM® Cortex-A and ARM926EJS™ processors. A processor as disclosed hereinmay perform computational functions using any known or future-developedstandard, instruction set, libraries, and/or architecture.

1. An augmented reality gaming system, comprising: a gameplay devicecomprising: a mount; a first wireless transceiver; and a plurality oftriggers, each corresponding to a virtual weapon; wherein the gameplaydevice does not include an infrared transmitter and does not include aninfrared receiver; and a mobile device removably secured to the mount,the mobile device comprising: a processor; a screen; an image sensor; alocation sensor; an orientation sensor; a second wireless transceiver;and a memory, the memory storing an augmented reality gaming appcomprising instructions for execution by the processor that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to: display, on thescreen, a live image received from the image sensor; receive locationinformation from the location sensor; generate target information aboutat least one target; display, on the screen and based on the locationinformation, a graphical depiction of the at least one target as anoverlay on the live image; receive, via the second wireless transceiverand from the first wireless transceiver, an indication of activation ofone of the plurality of triggers, wherein activation of the one of theplurality of triggers corresponds to firing the virtual weaponcorresponding to the one of the plurality of triggers; display ananimation on the screen in response to the indication; receiveorientation information from the orientation sensor; and calculate,based on the location information, the orientation information, and thetarget information, whether the firing of the virtual weapon causedvirtual damage to the target.
 2. The augmented reality gaming system ofclaim 1, wherein the target information comprises target locationinformation and target size information.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The augmentedreality gaming system of claim 1, wherein the augmented reality gamingapp comprises additional instructions for execution by the processorthat, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:award points based on the amount of virtual damage caused to the target.5. The augmented reality gaming system of claim 1, wherein the screen isa touchscreen, and further wherein the augmented reality gaming appcomprises additional instructions for execution by the processor that,when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: receive,via the touchscreen, a user selection for one of a single player and amultiplayer game.
 6. The augmented reality gaming system of claim 1,wherein the user selection corresponds to a multiplayer game, andfurther wherein the augmented reality gaming app comprises additionalinstructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to: receive, via the secondwireless transceiver, second location information about a location of asecond mobile device.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The augmented reality gamingsystem of claim 6, wherein the augmented reality gaming app comprisesadditional instructions for execution by the processor that, whenexecuted by the processor, further cause the processor to: calculate,based on the location information, the orientation information, and thesecond location information, whether the firing of the virtual weaponcaused virtual damage to a user of the second mobile device. 9.(canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. An AR gaming system comprising: a gamingdevice comprising an adjustable mount, a plurality of user interfaces, apower source, and a secondary wireless transceiver, wherein the powersource is shaped in a form of a bullet magazine; and a first mobiledevice removably secured to the adjustable mount, the first mobiledevice comprising: a processor; a location sensor; an orientationsensor; an image sensor; a primary wireless transceiver; a screen; and amemory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processorthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: establisha multiplayer gaming session among a plurality of mobile devicesincluding the first mobile device, each of the plurality of mobiledevices corresponding to a player; receive, via the primary wirelesstransceiver, information about a location of the plurality of mobiledevices other than the first mobile device; receive location informationabout the first mobile device from the location sensor; transmit, viathe primary wireless transceiver, the location information; generatetarget information about a plurality of virtual targets, the targetinformation comprising at least target location information and targetorientation information; transmit the target information via the primarywireless transceiver; display, on the screen, a live image based on datareceived from the image sensor; receive orientation information aboutthe first mobile device from the orientation sensor; and selectivelydisplay on the screen, based on the location information, theorientation information, and the target information, at least onevirtual image representing a target, the at least one virtual imageoverlaid on the live image.
 12. The AR gaming system of claim 11,wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by theprocessor that, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: receive, from the secondary wireless transceiver and viathe primary wireless transceiver, a signal indicating user interactionwith one of the plurality of user interfaces; display, on the screen andbased on the signal, an image sequence; and transmit, via the primarywireless transceiver, information corresponding to the signal.
 13. TheAR gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of user interfacescorrespond to different virtual weapons, and the signal corresponds tothe firing of the virtual weapon corresponding to the one of theplurality of user interfaces.
 14. The AR gaming system of claim 13,wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by theprocessor that, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: calculate, based on at least the orientation information,the location information, and the target information, whether the firingof the virtual weapon caused virtual damage to at least one of theplurality of targets or at least one of the players corresponding to theplurality of mobile devices other than the first mobile device. 15.(canceled)
 16. The AR gaming system of claim 11, wherein a change in thetarget orientation information results in a change in the at least onevirtual image.
 17. A gaming system comprising: a gameplay device withoutan infrared transmitter, the gameplay device configured to hold a mobiledevice and comprising: a plurality of triggers, each of the plurality oftriggers corresponding to a different virtual weapon; and a firstwireless transceiver; the mobile device comprising: a processor; atouchscreen; a location sensor; an orientation sensor; an image sensor;a second wireless transceiver; and a memory, the memory storinginstructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to: display a live image on thetouchscreen based on a signal from the image sensor; generate targetinformation about at least one target; overlay a graphic on the liveimage based on the target information, the graphic corresponding to theat least one target; receive an indication, from the first wirelesstransceiver and via the second wireless transceiver, that one of theplurality of triggers has been pulled, the indication corresponding tothe firing of the virtual weapon corresponding to the one of theplurality of triggers; receive orientation information from theorientation sensor; and determine, based on the orientation informationand the target information, whether the firing of the virtual weaponresulted in virtual damage to the at least one target.
 18. The gamingsystem of claim 17, wherein the virtual weapon corresponding to the oneof the plurality of triggers is a rifle or a grenade launcher.
 19. Thegaming system of claim 17, wherein the gameplay device comprises a mountwith an adjustable slant and/or tilt.
 20. The gaming system of claim 17,wherein the memory stores additional instructions for execution by theprocessor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:transmit the target information via the second wireless transceiver; andreceive, via the second wireless transceiver, information about alocation of a second mobile device.
 21. The augmented reality gamingsystem of claim 1, further comprising a fire control module.
 22. Theaugmented reality gaming system of claim 21, wherein the fire controlmodule obtains real-time weather data from an online weather database.23. The augmented reality gaming system of claim 21, wherein the firecontrol module incorporates an effect of at least one of a temperature,a windspeed, a humidity, or an air pressure when calculating whether ashot has hit the at least one target.
 24. The augmented reality gamingsystem of claim 17, wherein the gameplay device comprises a cable thatremovably attaches to a port on the mobile device to provide power tothe mobile device.
 25. The AR gaming system of claim 11, furthercomprising a cable that removably attaches to a port on the first mobiledevice to transfer power from the power source to the first mobiledevice.